Roto-Rx

The Doctor is now in...

Question 1: Is Brad Lidge’s goose cooked? Do I need a new closer or have I endured the pain already. – Blain, Deerfield, MD

Blain: Dr. Roto sympathizes with you as I have him in one of my leagues. Each night I dread his boxscore and wait with baited breath that the game is over with Lidge getting the save. Charlie Manuel is saying all the right things, and Charlie as an old baseball guy will give Lidge EVERY chance to succeed. So, let's hang in there and hope for the best.

Question 2: You mentioned something about pitchers not being as valuable as hitters in the 2nd half. What did you mean by that? Why would a pitcher’s second 16 or so starts not be as valuable as his first 16 or so? That does not make any mathematical sense to me? They would have the same statistical effect on your team’s stats would they? Please explain. Thanks. – Philip Holt, University of Miami (GO CANES!)

Philip: Don't go taking one class in Probability and Statistics at Criminal U and start getting all over Dr. Roto! Let me shed some light for you...16 starts for a pitcher in the second half seems like the same, but is it? I will argue that the ERA/WHIP categories are harder to move up/down unless all your pitchers pitch very well or very badly. Along those lines, assuming that a pitcher pitches well in 10 of those games and poorly in another 6, you are only moving the wheel a tinge. Whereas, I am betting that your HR/RBI/R categories are a bit tighter. 10 HR could make the difference in 3 points. That is why I prefer trading for hitting in the second half unless I feel that the pitcher is an impact starter (i.e. Halladay, Santana)

Question 3: How much longer do I hang with “sumo wrestler” Big Papi? - Norman, Boston, MA

Norman: My guess is that you have Big Poopi (er, I mean Big Poppi) at a high price in your league. Because of that you have two choices: 1) try to move him to a team that is "going for it" and tell them that you know Big Poopi's new optometrist, or 2) Keep him yourself and see if he starts hitting again.

Question 4: The posts on the site are driving my co-workers and I nuts for a week now! We are getting absolutely no work done! So who had the best statistical rotisserie single season in the modern era? Ricky Henderson ‘85, Alfonso Soriano ‘ 02 or was it someone else? – Greg, Dallas, TX

Greg: Did you forget about Barry Bonds' 2001 season? He of the .328 BA, 73 HR, 137 RBI, 129 R, 13 SB (and 200 syringes).

Question 5: Who is more valuable to a Fantasy roster, the best all around scoring hitter or the best all around scoring starting pitcher? – Brian, Brookfield, WI

Brian: Excellent question! I will assume that you are in a league of 14 hitters and 9 pitchers. Further assumption is that each team carries 3 closers. If that is the case, I might argue that a stud pitcher is 1/6 of your pitching categories versus 1/14 for a stud hitter helping your hitting categories. That said, I still wouldn't trade for a starter mid-season unless he was a stud!

Dr. Roto is out.

Mark Bloom (aka Dr. Roto) is the former owner of Roto-Rx, a fantasy website featured in a UPN newscast. He has been an active competitor and commissioner in fantasy leagues for close to 20 years winning numerous league titles.

Have a question for Dr. Roto?